§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of new municipal waste incinerators that will need to be built by May 2002 to meet the Government's international commitments; [107377]
(2) what plans he has to increase the number of waste incinerators; and if he will make a statement. [107378]
§ Mr. MullinThere are no international obligations requiring the construction of municipal waste incinerators, although there are stringent EU standards for emissions from such incinerators. Proposals for higher standards are under consideration.
359WThe number of additional incinerators required in order to deal with municipal waste in the future is a matter for local authorities, who should make their decisions on the basis of the waste hierarchy and the Best Practical Environmental Option as proposed in the Government's Draft Waste Strategy. That focuses on the need to increase recycling and reuse substantially. The number of incinerators that might eventually be required will depend on the success of the Strategy in minimising the waste collected from householders.